Excavating apparatus.



No. 7I5,962. Patented Dec. I6, |902.

R. BUWKEB. .EXCAVATING APPARATUS.

(Application led June 26, 1902.) l

4 Sheets-Shet I.

(No Model.)

NRM.

' Patented Dec. I6, |9027.

3. Bowman.

. EXCAVATNG APPARATUS.

(Application tiled June 26, 1902.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(llo Modal.)

v Patented Dec. I6, i902.

` n.1Bow'Kr-m. EXCAVATING APPARATUS.

(Application led June 26, 1902;)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(Nu Model.)

Patented Dec. I6, |902.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(Application filed June 26, 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RENSSELAER BOWKER, OF KOKOMO, INDIANA.

EXCAVATING APPARATUS.

. SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent No. 715,962, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed June 26, 1902. .Serial No. 113,308. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, RENSSELAER Bowxna, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kokomo, county of Howard, State of Indiana,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Excavating Apparatus; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it per- 1o tains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates in general to apparatus for excavating, and more particularly to t5 a portable apparatus for digging ditches or making cuts in grading which progresses automatically as the dirt is removed from in front of the apparatus.

Excavatingmachines as ordinarily conzo structed remainv stationary While the dirt within a limited radius is being removed and are then propelled forwardly a short distance, so as to bring the apparat-us nearer the working point. It is consequently necessary at frequent intervals to interrupt the work of excavating while the apparatus is being propelled to a new working position. The primary object of my invention is to provide an excavating apparatus which will 3o vprogress automatically at a speed corresponding to the removal of the earth from in front of the apparatus, and hence render unnecessary any interruption in the work of excavating. Y

A further object of my invention is to provide an excavating apparatus of the class referred to in which the earth is loosened or broken up and is then automatically removed from the path of the excavator to one or more o points, so as to permit a continuous forward movement of the apparatus as the cut or grading progresses.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an excavating apparatus of the type mentioned which will be comparatively simple and durable in construction and efficient in operation.

My invention, generally stated, consists in a portable apparatus comprising means for 5o loosening or breaking the earth, means for then removing the earth to one or both sides of the apparatus, and means for propelling the apparatus progressively at a speed corresponding to the work of removing the earth. My invention further consists in one or more angers located at the front end of the appa-a ratus andV rotating in transverse planes, conveyer-scoops for removing the dirt as fast as it is loosened Aby the auger, means for continuously propelling the apparatus, and interposed power-transmitting connections whereby the removal of the earth and the propulsion of the apparatus are proportionate to the capacity of the auger.

My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in whichf Figure lis a longitudinal central section of the apparatus on line l l, Fig. 3; Fig. 2, an end elevation with the angers removed looking from the right in Figs. l and 3; Fig. 3, a sectional plan view of the apparatus on line 3 3, Fig. l; Fig. 4., a View similar to Fig. 2, showing a inodied arrangement of the conveyer; Fig. 5, a' detail view of one side of the truck which supports the rear end of the'apparatus; Fig. 6, a horizontal section through one of the adjustable supporting-bearings of the front axle, taken on line 6 6, Fig. 7; Fig. 7, an elevational View, partially broken away, of the adjustable bearing illustrated in section in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the adjustable bearing shown in Figs. 6 and 7 removed from the frame.

Similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Reference characters A A indicate parallel side beams of a supporting-frame upon which the apparatus is mounted.'

A', A2, and Adesignate cross-beams rigidly connecting the side beams A and A. u

The supporting-frame of the apparatus is mounted upon wheels in order thatit may be rendered portable.

D are preferably arranged in two pairs, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3, with a space between each pair for a purpose subsequently to be described. The ends of the axle D' are journaled in axle-boxes ol', preferably formed in two vertical portions, secured together in any suitable manner, asshown, forinstance,

The wheels E on the axle in Figs. 7 and 8. The axle-boxes d are vertically adjustable in guides a, secured to the inner faces of the side frames A A and at correspondingly opposite points. The guides a may be secured to the side frames A in any suitable manner-as, for instance, by bolts extending through the side frames and also through an interposed filling-block a, fitted between the horizontal portions ofthe I-beam, of which material the side frames are preferably formed. Suitable means are provided for vertically adjusting the axle boxes d within the guides a', for convenience such means being shown as comprising ascrew d2, which engages a screw-thread through the top portion a2 of each guiding-frame and which is provided at one end with means for rotating the same and atits other end with a swiveled connection in engagement with the axlebox d. By turning the screw d2 the guides a2 and side frames A may be elevated or lowered with respect to the axle D.

The rear end of the supporting-frame is mounted upon a truck D through the medium of a shaft D2, which is supported at opposite ends in bearings a3 a3, secured to the inner faces of the side frames A A at. correspondinglyl opposite points. The truck D comprises two similar side frames-such, for instance, as shown in Fig. 5. Each of the side frames consists of upper and lower portions, between the centers of which is a bearing d2, through which passes an end of the shaft D2. At either side of the bearing d2, between the upper and lower portions of each of the side frames, are bearings d3 and d4, in which are journaled the ends of axles D3 and D4. Secured to the axles D3 and D4 at opposite ends thereof are wheels E3 and E4, the peripheries of which are preferably provided with transverse grooves to engage ridges projecting from endless tracks which surround each pair of wheels E3 and E4, as clearly illustrated in Fig. l. One of the end journal-boxes in each of the side frames is longitudinally adjustable, as shown in Fig. 5, for convenience such adjustment being accomplished by a screw-threaded bolt passing through screwthreads in the end d of the side frame and swiveled at one end to the axle-box d3.

The endless tracks F, which surround each of the pairs of wheels of the truck D, may be constructed in any desired manner and may preferably consist in a series of metallic sections hinged together, so as to be rendered flexible. The hinges between the several sections of the endless tracks may extend above the inner surface of the endless tracks and constitute transverse projections to engage correspondingly-shaped recesses in the peripheries of the wheels of the truck D.

Mounted upon the supporting-frame are a series of pairs of upwardly-extending beams B B, resting at their lower ends upon the upper faces of the side beams A A, B2 B2, resting at the lower ends upon the cross-beam A2, and uprights B3 B3, supported at their lower ends upon the cross-beam A3. Parallel beams C C are supported by the upper ends of the pairs of uprights B, B2, and B3, while transverse beams C', C2, and C3 unite the side beams C and C and preferably extend between the upper ends of each of the pairs of uprights B, B2, and B3.

A platform A4 is mounted above the truck D, with its ends supported above the crossbeams A and A2. Upon the platform A4 is located a motor for communicating the necessary power for the operation of the apparatus. In the present instance I have shown such motor as consisting in a steam-engine G', which is supplied, through a supply-pipe g, with steam from a boiler G, also mounted upon the platform A4. The engine G', which may be of any convenient type, rotates a power-shaft G2, on one end of which is a flywheel g2 and on the other end of which is a belt-pulley g' or other power-transmitting device.

Journaled upon the upper cross-beams C', C2, and C3 are series of shafts l-I, H2, and H3, the ends of which are journaled in suitable bearings upon the cross-beams C and C3. A belt-pulley or other form of power-transmitting devicej is secured to the shaft H2 and in vertical alinemeut with the belt-pulley g. A sprocket-wheel h2 is secured to the shaft H2 and communicates power to a shaft K2, journaled upon the cross-beams A2 and A3, through a sprocket-chain J2 and sprocketwheel j2, secured to the shaft K2 in vertical alinement with the sprocket-wheel h2. The end of the shaft K2 opposite the sprocket- Wheel J2 is provided with a gear-wheel 7a2, which is in mesh with two gear-wheels 7c and 7c3, rigidly secured to shafts K and K3, journaled upon the cross-beams A2 and A3 at either side of the shaft K2 and located between the respective pairs of Wheels E on the axle D. The shafts K and K3 are extended ontwardly beyond the cross-beam A3 and are provided at their ends with earthcutting devices or augers N and N3, respectively. The angers N and N3 are preferably duplicates and may be constructed in any suitable manner. For convenience I have shown each of them comprising a hub N, from which radially project cutting-blades n, preferably two in number, located in planes angularly disposed with relation to each other. Each of the blades n may preferably comprise a series of spikes n and a Iiange n2, secured to the blades n by suitable fastening means.

Secured to the front end of the shaft H2, which is rotatably mounted at the top of the framework, are power-transmitting wheelsj3 and j", located adjacent to each other, the former of which is for convenience shown as a sprocket-wheel, while the latter is shown as a chain-wheel having a grooved periphery. A sprocket-chain J3 operatively connects the sprocket-wheel ,7'3 with a sprocket-wheel on the shaft H', while a crossed endless chain J 4 IOO y operatively connects the chain-wheel j4 with a similar Wheel fixed to the shaft H2. The shafts H and HB are extended beyond their bearings on the front upper cross-,beam C3, and each is provided with a pair of sprocketwheels M and M3, which are rigidly secured to the respective shafts. The pairs of sprocket-wheels M and M2 are operatively engaged by endless sprocket-chains, to which are secured scoops or shovels M, thereby constituting conveyers M. The lower ends of the conveyers M are guided upon drums m and m2, loosely mounted vupon the shafts K and K2, respectively, between the cross-beam A3 and the angers N and N2.

A shaft L is journaled at its opposite ends above the cross-beams A and A2 and is provided at its forward end with a gear-wheel Z4, in mesh with a gear-wheel 7a4, secured to the. shaft K2 between an end thereof and the sprocket-wheel 32. A worm Z surrounds and is secured to the shaft L immediately above the transverse shaft D2 and engages a wormwheel Z'. secured to said shaft D2. A gear- Wheel Z2 is secured to the shaft D2 and is in mesh with a gear-wheel Z2, fixed upon one of the axles D4 of the truck D.

Brackets A5 may be secured to the crossbeam A', to which may be coupled a tender for carrying the fuel and water for the boiler.

Any slack which may occur in the endless tracks F is removed by adjusting the axleboxes d2 within the side frames of the truck D through the adjusting means shown in Fig. 5.

1n Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modified arrangement, in which a single conveyer is employed which passes around both of the guiding-drums on the shafts K' aud K2, but over only one of the pairs of sprocket-wheels M or M3. In this modification all of the dirt is conveyed to one side of the apparatus.

An apron O, preferably made of metal, is located beneath the guide-drums m' and m3, and extends outwardly to a point adjacent to the rear of the angers, and is secured to the outer faces of the side beamsA A. A partition O extends upwardly at the back of the apron O and serves as a protection for the gear-wheels in the rear thereof. A series of teeth 0 project outwardly from the lower edge of the apron O and serve to guide loose pieces ofy dirt into the apron and also to level the portion of the ground between the angers.

The operation of my improved excavating apparatus is as follows: The power-shaft G2 is rotated by the motor, in the present instance the steam-engine G, and through the belt J and belt-wheels g and j the shaft H2 lis rotated. The sprocket-chain J2 and sprocketwheelsh2andj2, in mesh therewith, communicate rotary motion to the lower shaft K2, which'y in turn, through the meshed gea-rwheels k2, k', and k3, rotates the shafts K and K2. The angers N and N2, which arefrigidly fixed upon the shafts K and K2, are conseqnently rotated and by their cutting-blades -come in contact.

loosen or break the earth with which they Rotary motion is communicated to each ofl the shafts I-I and H2 by means of the wheels js andj4 on the shaft H2 and the chains in engagement therewith, such rotary motion being communicated to the pairs of sprocket wheels M' and M3 through -their fixed engagement with the shafts H and H2. The conveyers M are conseqnently moved through their engagement with the pairs of sprocket-wheels M4 and M3. The lower ends of the conveyers are guided vby the loose drumsm and m2 on the shafts K and K2, so that the scoops m will pass immediately to the rear of the angers and be filled with the loose dirt, which is carried to a point above the sprocket-wheels M and M2, where the'inversionof the scoops permits the dirt to fall at either side of the apparatus, preferably into wagons located so as to receive the dirt. The outward inclination of the upright supports B3 permits the location of the wagons or other conveyances immediately below the points where the scoops are inverted. By means of the meshing gearwheels c4 and Z4 rotary motion is transmitted from the shaft K2 to the shaft L and through the Worm Z and Worm-wheel Z4 to the transverse shaft D2, the rotation of which in turn rotates the axle D4 through the gear-Wheels Z2 and Z3. The pair of wheels E4 on the axle D4 is rotated, and through the engagement of the recesses in their peripheries with the ridges or projections of the endless tracks F F the rear pair of wheels E2 is rotated, so that the entire apparatus is propelled simultaneously with the operation of the angers and conveyers.

It should be noted that the sprocket-wheel h2 is smaller than the sprocket-wheel L7'2, while the power-wheels js and ,7'4 are larger than the sprocket-wheel h2, but of approximately the same .size as the power-wheels located upon the shafts H and H3, which drive the conveyers, so that the speed with which the conveyers are moved is much greater than the Speed of rotation of the angers N and N2, especially as the gear-wheels 7c and k3 on the shafts K' and K3, to which the angers are fixed, are larger than the gear-wheel'7c2, by which they are driven and which is fixed on the shaft K2. It should be also noted that the power conn-ection between the shafts L and D2, consisting in a worm and worm-wheel,produce a relatively slow rotation of the latter shaft, so that the apparatus is propelled forwardly very slowly compared to the speed of rotation of the angers and conveyers. The relation between the powertransmitting connections should be such that the apparatus will move forwardlyonly as fast as the-angers can cnt or loosen the earth and only as fast as the loonveyers can remove the same fromin front of theapparatus. The depth of the cnt may be varied by adj usting the supporting-framework with respect to the front axle D. If a shallow cut is only desired, the side beams A IOO IIO

IZO

are moved vertically upwardly with respect to the axle-boxes d', while if a deep cut is required the side beams A are moved downwardly relatively to the axle-boxes CZ.

While it is preferable to employ two c'onveyers which are so driven as to deliver the dirt at both sides of the apparatus, circumstances may arise which render it expedient to deliver the dirt at only one side, and in such case a single conveyer is employed, which' passes around both of the loose guidedrums m' and m3 and around one of the pairs of sprocket-wheels M' or D' 5. In Fig. 4, for instance, a single conveyer is shown which passes around the pair of sprocket-wheels M', and hence all of the dirt would be delivered to one side alone of the apparatus.

From the foregoing description it is evident that I have devised an excavating apparatus which will be propelled automatically and continuously as fast as the dirt in front thereof is removed, and consequently no loss of time is incurred in moving forward the apparatus at frequent intervals in order that it may be kept within proper working distance of the earth which is to be removed.

Vhile I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form, the proportion of parts, and the substitution of equivalents, as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having new fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Y Letters Patent, is-

l. In a portable excavating apparatus, the combination with rotary means for breaking up the earth,of means for removing the broken earth, and means for continuously propelling the apparatus at a speed proportionate to the work of removing the earth, substantially as described.

2. In a portable excavating apparatus, the combination with a rotary earth-auger, ot' a conveyer located adjacent to said anger, and means for continuously propelling the apparatus at a speed proportionate to the work of removing the earth, substantially as described.

3. In a portable excavating apparatus, the combination with a pair of substantially horizontal rotary earth-au gers, of endless conveyers adapted to remove the earth from points adjacent to the angers to either side of the apparatus, and means for continuously propelling the apparatus at a speed corresponding to the progress ofthe Work, substantially as described.

4. In an excavating apparatus, the combination with means for breaking up the earth, of an apron located adjacent to said means for receiving the broken earth, and conveyers for removing the earth from said apron, substantially as described.

5. In an excavating apparatus, the combination with means for breaking up the earth, of an apron located adjacent to said means for receiving the broken earth, conveyers for removing the earth from said apron, and means for propelling the apparatus at a speed proportionate to the Work of removing the earth, substantially as described.

6. In a portable excavating apparatus, the combination with a pair of rotary earth-augers, of an apron located adjacent to said angers for receiving the broken earth, and endless conveyers adapted to remove the earth from said apron to the side of the apparatus, substantially as described.

7. In a portable excavating apparatus, the combination with a pair of rotary earth-augers, of an apron located adjacent to said augers for receiving the broken earth, endless conveyers adapted to remove the earth from said apron to the side of the apparatus, and means for propelling the apparatus continuously at a speed corresponding to the work of removing the earth, substantially as described.

8. In an excavating apparatus, the combination with a supporting-frame, of substantially horizontal rotary means journaled upon said frame for breaking up the earth, a support interposed between said frame and the ground, and connections whereby said frame may be vertically adjustable relatively to its support thereby regulating the depth of the cut, substantially as described.

9. In an excavating apparatus, the combination with a supporting-frame, of longitudinal shafts journaled on said frame, earth-augers fixed upon said shafts, a support interposed between the ground and said frame upon which the latter is mounted, and connections between said support and frame whereby the frame may be raised or lowered to regulate the position of the angers with respect to the surface of the ground, substantially as described.

l0. In a portable excavating apparatus, the combination with a supporting-frame, of an axle having wheels thereon upon which said frame is mounted, longitudinal shafts journaled on said frame, earth-angers fixed upon said shafts, axle-boxes in which said axle is journaled, and means for vertically adjusting said frame upon the axle-boxes whereby the depth of the cut of the angers is regulated, substantially as described.

ll. In a portable excavating apparatus, the combination with a supportingframe, of means for breaking up the earth mounted upon said frame, an axle having wheels thereon located under said frame at the end thereof adjacent to said means, axle-boxes in which said axle is journaled secured to said frame, a truck comprising side frames and axles journaled therein upon which said supportingframe is mounted at its other end so as to permitavertically-swinging motion ofsaid frame, and means for vertically adjusting said frame upon the axle-boxes whereby the depth of the IOO IIO

cut ofthe augers may be varied, substantially as described.

12. In a portable excavating apparatus, the combination with a supporting frame, of wheels upon which said frame is supported, a motor mounted thereon, rotary means for breaking up the earth, means for removing the broken earth, power con nections interposed between said motor and each of said means, connections transmitting power from said motor to said wheels for propelling the apparatus, said power connections being so regulated that the apparatus progresses continuously at a speed corresponding to the breaking up and removing of the earth, substantially as described.

13. In a portable excavating apparatus, the combination with a substantially horizontal rotary earth-auger, of -a conveyer located adjacent to and movable in a plane transverse to said auger whereby the earth which is broken up by said auger is removed to the side of the apparatus.

` 14. In a portable excavating apparatus, the combination with a pair of substantially horizontal rotary earth-augers,of endless conveyers located in planes transverse to said angers and adapted to remove the earth from points adjacent to the angers to either side of the apparatus.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

RENSSELAER BOWKER. Witnesses:

`D. L. DUKE, JOHN DILL. 

